Re: [PyrNet-L] Rescue Emergency - microchipping

["Tracy Bassett" <espinay@dynamite.com.au>]

As of 1 July microchipping has just become law here (in the state of New
South Wales).  All dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered with
local councils (state wide once off lifetime registration scheme) by the age
of 6 months.  The ANKC which is our controllling body for registered dogs is
really supportive of microchipping and microchip numbers of registered dogs
are also on their national database.  They also, through the State Canine
Councils, supply microchips to affiliated clubs and run microchipping days
themselves. The training club I teach at runs regular microchipping days for
our members (we have a membership of around 1000 with new intakes every 8
weeks) - The microchips cost us $Au20 for Canine Council members and $Au25
for non members.  We add $Au5 per chip onto this as fundraising (we are a
volunteer run organisation) and we provide the vet to do it.  The RSPCA also
does microchipping for the public at its regular information days and fun
events I think they charge around $Au30 too.

My dogs are all microchipped (even before the new law) and I feel a lot
safer knowing they have some form of permanent identification on them
(collars are NOT permanent and can be removed or come off far to easily for
my liking!).  the importance of this type of identification (it looks a
little like a grain of rice and you just don't know its there until you
scan) was really brought home to me a while back when a Dally breeder friend
of mine had a 12 week old puppy stolen from her kennels (through a seven
foot double paling fence - they dismantled the fence -  and two other yards
holding 'the old girls' to get at her - they were REALLY determined).  Two
years later she thought she knew where she was, but had no way of proving
that that grown dog was her stolen puppy as she was not microchipped.  She
had no real way of identifying her other than her say so.

Another benefit of compulsory microchipping - owners (and breeders?) will be
(in a larger number of cases anyway) traceable - quite a bonus for rescue.

Tracy Bassett
Canberra, Australia
espinay@dynamite.com.au
http://members.dynamite.com.au/espinay/index.htm